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“There’s always all this swirl,” Michaels told the Times, describing the build-up to last weekend's post-debate show. “And then you’re fighting to get Big Bird on the phone.”

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The scramble to get an appearance from Sesame Street’s beloved character boiled down to politics. Executives at the Children’s Television Workshop were hesitant to have Big Bird appear in a sketch that could be construed as political commentary, which compelled Michaels to appeal to his contacts at the company.

Michaels is usually protective about the creative process, but in a rare move, he allowed Children’s Television Workshop executives to look at the script, according to the Times.

The move worked in his favor, as the execs agreed to the sketch, and Caroll Spinney, who has played Big Bird since 1969, was told to bring out his feathered costume.

The sketch brought Big Bird back into the news, and he didn’t have to compromise his political affiliations to do so.

Joining Seth Meyers at the “Weekend Update” anchor desk, Big Bird declined to make a political statement on Romney’s vow to axe federal funding for PBS.